Yu Jinping called Zhang Xiaoliang. From Zhang Xiaoliang's tone, it could be heard that he was in a very bad mood. This also indirectly showed that the conflict between Zhang Xiaoliang and Fang Zhicheng was real.
Yu Jinping asked Zhang Xiaoliang to have dinner together in the evening. Zhang Xiaoliang hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to agree.
Agreeing to have dinner with him was a good sign, indicating that Zhang Xiaoliang had begun to waver in his heart and he had a chance to persuade him to surrender.
The two of them met at a small restaurant in a remote location. Zhang Xiaoliang reported the location to Yu Jinping. Yu Jinping searched for a long time before he found it. He almost got lost and asked several people before he arrived at the destination. The restaurant is located in an old residential area in the eastern suburbs. The storefront is small, the doorplate is yellow, and the environment inside is also ordinary. When you walk in, you can smell a not-so-good smell of oil. Such a small restaurant actually has a private room, but the stairs leading to the second floor are narrow and steep. Yu Jinping lacks exercise, and when he found Zhang Xiaoliang, he was already sweating and panting.
Zhang Xiaoliang took a tissue from the table, handed it to Yu Jinping, and said with a smile: "Old Yu, you worked hard to find this place."
Yu Jinping smiled bitterly and said, "It's surprising. Why did you choose such a remote place?"
Zhang Xiaoliang's mouth twitched, and he handed a cigarette to Yu Jinping, saying, "It's better for us to keep a low profile when we meet. After all, we are not in the same boat. If something unpleasant comes out, it will be bad for both you and me."
Yu Jinping smiled slightly and said, "Old Zhang, you are really cautious enough."
Zhang Xiaoliang sighed and shrugged, saying, "I can't help it. Who made the person above me so suspicious?"
Yu Jinping pretended to be surprised and whispered, "No way, I always felt that Fang trusted you."
Zhang Xiaoliang shook his head and said, "This is a different time. There is a saying that goes, 'When one's achievements are too great, they threaten the master.' Now Fang Zhicheng thinks that I am too powerful, so he wants to get rid of me. After all, Secretary Shaoqun and you are no longer with Xiaguang, and he has secured his position. Not only am I of no use to him, but I have become a risk because I know many of his secrets."
Yu Jinping shook his head and smiled bitterly, "If Fang wants to abandon you, then that's really too ruthless. Everyone in the Xiaguang officialdom knows how many hard and dirty jobs you, Zhang Xiaoliang, have helped him handle?"
Zhang Xiaoliang waved his hand and smiled helplessly: "Old Yu, the reason I'm willing to come and talk to you today is mainly because we feel that we share the same suffering. There are some things I can't tell others. Only by telling you can you deeply understand my difficulties."
Yu Jinping nodded and sighed, "When Fang Zhicheng called me out of the gloom, I felt the same as you, feeling unbalanced. But later on, I finally found a way out and met a mentor."
Zhang Xiaoliang shook his finger and said with a smile, "Old Yu, there is no third person present today. You are still beating around the bush when talking to me. The reason why you wanted to take advantage of the situation was because you had found a place in advance and had established a connection with Mayor Zhao."
Yu Jinping smiled awkwardly and said, "How can it be earlier? I have only met Mayor Zhao a few times before and have had some interactions. However, after learning about my difficulties, Mayor Zhao still gave me a lot of help. Otherwise, how could I have gone on to work in the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department?"
Zhang Xiaoliang remained calm. He knew very well that Yu Jinping was promoted in name only and demoted in reality. The power he held now was not even as much as that of a deputy director of the Organization Department of the Xiaguang District Committee.
Zhang Xiaoliang's eyes sparkled, and he said slowly: "Old Yu, to be honest, I used to despise what you did, but now I think about it, I admire your choice. It's just that I'm not as lucky as you, with Mayor Zhao as a big backer."
Hearing Zhang Xiaoliang say this, Yu Jinping knew that Zhang Xiaoliang was waiting for his recommendation and guidance.
In fact, everyone knew the purpose of today's meal. However, they didn't want to be too straightforward, so they kept talking around the purpose, and no one wanted to point it out first, because there was a mystery.
Whoever points it out will have fewer bargaining chips.
If Zhang Xiaoliang proposed it first, it would mean that he was asking Yu Jinping to introduce himself to Zhao Liang. In this way, Zhang Xiaoliang would owe Yu Jinping a favor. If Yu Jinping proposed it first, it would mean that Zhang Xiaoliang was won over. In the future, Zhang Xiaoliang would not have to be so humble in Zhao Liang's camp.
There is a certain difference between joining and winning over when it comes to choosing sides.
Take Yu Jinping as an example. He originally joined Zhao Liang's camp as a defector. However, when he wanted to go to the Beijing Office, Zhao Liang rejected his request. He was eventually arranged to work in the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department as a sinecure.
The waitress walked into the box with a menu. Zhang Xiaoliang picked two dishes and handed the menu to Yu Jinping, asking him to order a few dishes he liked. Yu Jinping selected a few dishes and waited for the waitress to leave. He smiled and said, "I didn't expect the waitresses in this restaurant to be so pretty."
Zhang Xiaoliang smiled and said, "She is not only a waitress, but also the boss of this store."
Yu Jinping was slightly startled and said, "Such a young female boss, quite unexpected."
Zhang Xiaoliang said: "The shop was originally opened by her husband. A few years after they got married, her husband died in a car accident, so the shop remained."
Yu Jinping sighed and said, "So she is a widow."
Zhang Xiaoliang smiled and said, "Don't look down on a widow opening a shop. The business is even more prosperous than when her husband was here. You see, the boss lady is pretty, and she's widowed at a young age. Men are very compassionate, so they take care of her when there's some business."
Yu Jinping narrowed his eyes, smiled, and said, "Lao Zhang, you are so familiar with this lady boss, it seems that you two are having an affair, right?"
Zhang Xiaoliang laughed and said, "You know I have a tigress at home. I am willing but unable to do anything."
As they were talking, the door of the private room was pushed open, and the female boss came up with a plate and said, "Your food is here."
Zhang Xiaoliang smiled and said, "Take two small bottles of Red Star Erguotou."
The female boss nodded and walked away, swaying her graceful figure. Not long after, she came back with two small bottles of white wine, pointed at the plate next to the hot pot, and said, "If the side dishes are not enough, just let me know and I'll add more for you."
Yu Jinping smiled and said, "The boss lady is so polite."
The female boss smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang is a regular customer and often takes care of my business, so naturally he wants some discounts."
Zhang Xiaoliang smiled faintly, and after the female boss left, he said to Yu Jinping: "Old Yu, today I'll drink 7 yuan a bottle of wine, I hope you don't mind."
Yu Jinping quickly waved his hands and said with a smile: "What are you talking about?"
It was already winter, so they ordered hot pot, which would keep them warm. After a while, they finished the small bottle of liquor and asked the female boss to bring four more bottles. After two more bottles of liquor, the two of them started to talk more.
Yu Jinping burped and said, "Old Zhang, we've talked a lot and drank a lot of wine. Why don't we open the skylight? Are you interested in moving closer to Mayor Zhao like me?"
Zhang Xiaoliang shook his head, took a sip of white wine, and said with a wry smile: "Now Fang's attitude towards me is very clear, he must want to give up on me. As the saying goes, a wise bird chooses a good tree to roost in, and I also want to have a good place to go. However, I really have to think about Mayor Zhao's place, after all, I did a lot of things to let him down in the past."
Yu Jinping smiled and said, "Don't worry. A prime minister can hold a boat in his stomach. As long as you are willing to give up evil and join the light, I dare to guarantee that Mayor Zhao will be willing to accept you. Although Xiaguang has developed well, it is only a district after all. With your ability, you should follow the principle of water flowing to low places and people going to high places."
Zhang Xiaoliang seemed a little drunk. He nodded at Yu Jinping and said with a smile, "Old Yu, you are right. If I am not welcome here, I will find another place to stay. Although Fang Zhicheng has a lot of leverage over me, don't I also know many of his secrets?"
Yu Jinping asked indirectly, "Oh? Can you reveal a few?"